This interview was originally published in COSMOS Magazine, issue 50.
A sci-fi–fantasy blend about a mysterious woman with a multiverse to save, C.J. Cherryh’s first book was published in 1976. Since then, she has won numerous awards and delighted readers with more than 60 books. Her latest, Protector, the second installment of the fifth Foreigner trilogy, is expected in April. She talked to COSMOS reviews editor Rivqa Rafael about the genre and how she writes it. Continue reading
This interview was originally published in COSMOS Magazine, issue 49.
British-born Peter Pringle spent 30 years as a foreign correspondent, writing for magazines and newspapers such as The New York Times, The Observer and The Atlantic. Now based in New York City, he has authored or co-authored eight books, most recently a story of a famous scientific rip-off that followed the discovery of a cure for tuberculosis. He chats to COSMOS reviews editor Rivqa Rafael about the controversy. Continue reading
This review was originally published in COSMOS Magazine, issue 50.
It’s a refreshing change to play a game that doesn’t involve killing things.
In Waking Mars, the objective is just the opposite – instead of slaying everything you come across, you must bring an ecosystem to life in order to progress.
Players control Liang, a softly spoken jet-packing scientist (aided remotely by ART, an AI unit, and tech expert Amani) as he explores a cavern on Mars where signs of life have been discovered. To safely exit the caves and do his research, Liang must help the ecosystem along. Each lifeform has an encyclopaedia entry in the game journal that is filled in as discoveries are made.
The soundtrack and graphics, while not flashy (this is an indie game, after all), fit the story perfectly. The mechanics of the game are easy to master and the interface is simple (even on computer, there’s only a slot for one saved game). As such, seasoned gamers may find this offering too simple at first – but they may still enjoy the delightful premise and unfolding science-based story, and strategy becomes more important as you progress. Casual gamers and those playing on phones and tablets will find little to complain about with Waking Mars.
Waking Mars from Tiger Style on Vimeo.
How to Build a Better Human: an Ethical Blueprint
By Gregory E. Pence (2012), Rowman & Littlefield
This review was originally published in COSMOS Magazine, issue 50.
Stay calm – the brave new world of post-humanism is further away than you think.
That’s the take-home message of Gregory Pence’s excellent guide to the ethics of human modification.
Pence’s approach is best summarised as pragmatic philosophy, if such a tautology can be forgiven. Rather than speculate about near-impossible hypotheticals, he focusses on what can be (and is) done now, or might be in the near future. As such, a great deal of the book is taken up with deconstructing the ‘slippery slope’ arguments against pharmaceutical, surgical and genetic augmentation.
In a conversational, easy-to-read tone, he cautions against “comic book stereotypes” and begs for nuance in the debate about what we should and shouldn’t do to better ourselves. He dismantles the protests of Alarmists and the fantasies of Enthusiasts (his capitals), arguing for a commonsense approach in place of either extreme.
After running through the viable techniques for enhancing adults, children and embryos, Pence offers practical suggestions for scientists, politicians and anyone else who’s interested. Clocking in under 200 pages, the broad appeal of How to Build a Better Human is impressive: experts, futurists and casual readers might not agree with everything Pence says, but they’ll enjoy the journey regardless.
COSMOS fiction editor, Cat Sparks, launching her book at the Conflux 9 speculative fiction convention with
COSMOS reviews editor Rivqa Rafael. Credit: Robert Hood
This report was originally published on COSMOS Online.
The Australian speculative fiction (an umbrella term for science fiction, fantasy and related genres) community is small but perfectly formed. At Conflux 9, writers, artists, editors, publishers and fans mingled on largely equal footing. It’s Australia’s 52nd such convention, and the ninth in Canberra. Held from 25 to 28 April 2013 with some 270 attendees, it offered insights into the hearts of the genre and its people. Continue reading